JACKSONVILLE -- The Jaguars got a measure of revenge for last year’s AFC title game loss to the Patriots Sunday at TIAA Bank Stadium, dominating for a sizable chunk of 60 minutes on the way to a 31-20 win over New England.
The Patriots, who trailed by 21 in the third quarter, answered in the second half to cut the lead to 11 on a pair of occasions. But it was still not enough for New England, which suffered its first loss of the season. Tom Brady finished 24-for-35 for 234 yards with two touchdowns. James White had seven catches for 73 yards, while Chris Hogan added three receptions for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The anticipated showdown between Jacksonville corner Jalen Ramsey and tight end Rob Gronkowski never really materialized — the two were matched up on just a couple of occasions. Ramsey appeared to spend the bulk of his time opposite Hogan, White and Cordarrelle Patterson. (In fact, Ramsey was the one in coverage when Brady found Hogan for the Patriots’ first touchdown of the day.)
Without running back Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville was carried by Blake Bortles, who finished 28-for-44 for 372 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Keelan Cole had seven catches on eight targets for 116 yards and a touchdown for the hosts.
The Jaguars controlled just about every facet of the game for the first two quarters, as Bortles threw three touchdown passes in the early going, hitting Cole, Donte Moncrief and Austin Seferian-Jenkins to build a 21-3 lead after two quarters.
New England was not only a miserable mess at the start, it lost defensive end Trey Flowers and safety Pat Chung, both to concussions. The loss of Chung and the ineffective play of Eric Rowe necessitated some shuffling in the secondary — Jason McCourty saw a lot of action down the stretch, while his brother Devin moved from his safety spot into more of a coverage role.
Trailing 24-3 late in the third, the Patriots flipped the script late in the third quarter with a takeaway — a fumble was forced by Stephon Gilmore and recovered by Duron Harmon. After the takeaway, New England posted 10 quick points in 2:32 to cut the Jacksonville lead to 24-13.
After the Patriots just missed out on a first-down pickup on the ensuing drive — White came up just short after the spot was reversed on a replay review — New England decided to punt it away. On Jacksonville’s first play from scrimmage, Bortles hit Dede Westbrook on a quick dump-off pass, and the wide receiver took it 61 yards for the score that made it 31-13, and fundamentally ended things with roughly eight minutes to go.
IN-GAME UPDATES
7:19 p.m.: THAT should be it -- 31-20.
7:13 p.m.: Pats put together a quick drive, but right now, it's looking like it might be too little, too late. Nice downfield block by Gronkowski.
7:05 p.m.: That was a breakdown on multiple levels for the Patriots. Coming back from this is going to be almost impossible -- 31-13 with 7:35 left in the game. Now there's really no margin for error.
7:02 p.m.: Pats are going to punt here? OK then. There's really no margin for error, at least at this point.
6:54 p.m.: Pats get the ball back, but that field position flip is tough. Lead is 11 with 9:37 left in regulation.
6:49 p.m.: Fowler with the strip, and it's Jacksonville ball. That's on Waddle.
6:45 p.m.: Ho ho ho. Has Bortles turned back into a pumpkin? Patriots have the ball at the Jags' 25.
6:43 p.m. -- stat update:
6:41 p.m.: Patterson falls before the sticks. FG is good. 24-13 with 14:10 left in regulation.
6:36 p.m.: Boy, things have really started to turn here. White is just so big in the biggest moments. End of the third quarter.
6:35 p.m.: 48 seconds left in the third. Energy in this stadium has started to change. Patterson back to receive the punt.
6:29 p.m.: TD, Brady to Hogan. First Pats TD since the second quarter of last week's game -- 24-10.
1⃣2⃣ ➡ 1⃣5⃣ @ChrisHogan_15 | #NEvsJAX | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/0ukbzlYyKn
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 16, 2018
ARE YOU KIDDING @Air4Cole?!
?: CBS #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/glLod6Oefk
— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2018
The #Patriots may make another move at the receiver position: I’m told FA WR Kenny Britt is flying to Foxboro today to work out for the team on Monday, source says. If all goes well and his hamstring is healthy, he could sign in New England… again.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2018
The @patriots are away tomorrow... and it's gonna be a hot one... #Boston25 pic.twitter.com/p0bspSyRxl
— Sarah Wroblewski (@sarahwroblewski) September 15, 2018